England’s UEFA Nation’s League campaign got off to an underwhelming start, as Kika Nazareth’s moment of brilliance cancelled out Alessia Russo’s first half opener, ensuring the points were shared at a very wet Estádio Municipal de Portimão.
With Euro 2025 on the ever-closer horizon, a game that should have provided some insight as to how Sarina Wiegman may set her side up for the summer tournament, ended with the same flaws and concerns from 2024 being re-affirmed.
The Lineups:
POR: Pereira, Amado, Borges, Costa, Gomes, Marchão, Silva, Pinto, Norton, Jessica Silva, Diana Silva
ENG: Earps, Bronze, Charles, Walsh, Bright, Williamson, Park, Clinton, Russo, Toone, James
The Action:
In a first half of limited action, it was England who were the brighter of the two sides. Lauren James and Jess Park were tasked with supplying the ammunition from the flanks in the absence of Lauren Hemp and Beth Mead. James provided plenty of menace to suggest a fruitful evening was on the cards for England. After Russo had won possession on the halfway line, England worked the ball to the Chelsea forward, but her effort from range cleared the crossbar.
With Georgia Stanway out long-term with injury, Sarina Wiegman turned to Grace Clinton to partner Keira Walsh in the pivot. A nice passage of play between Clinton and Lucy Bronze unlocked the Portuguese defence to allow club team-mate Ella Toone to burst into the box but from an angle her effort missed the far post.
In-form Russo makes her mark
With 15 minutes on the clock, England made their superior play count. James’ trickery on the left allowed her to retain the ball under pressure, before switching the play with a booming pass out to Bronze deep on the right flank. She took one touch to control the bouncing ball and followed up with a volleyed delivery that landed on the feet of Russo in the six-yard box, who converted with ease.
Yet having taken the land, the same old frailties crept into England’s play as they slowly faded from the contest. The passing became sloppier, and Portugal began to grow in confidence. One such moment of carelessness in possession almost gifted Portugal an equaliser. When England lost the ball on the edge of their own penalty area, Tatiana Pinto’s effort was blocked, and although the rebound fell invitingly for Diana Silva, the angle was against her and she failed to convert.
The second half saw Jess Carter come onto the pitch in place of Lucy Bronze, but it didn’t appear to affect England initially. Indeed, they could have gone 2-0 up when James stormed down the left and into the penalty area, her stinging drive was unconvincingly shovelled behind by Inês Pereira. James threatened again when England tried to work a short corner, but her shot again cleared the crossbar.
Super Subs swing match for Portugal
It was enough for Portuguese head coach Francisco Neto to turn to his bench and make a drastic triple substitution, bringing on Andreia Jacinto, Lúcia Alves, and crucially Kika Nazareth. The effect was immediate. Portugal were able to go up through the gears and play at a greater level of intensity that England could not deal with. With Nazareth sat on Keira Walsh, England lost their pass-master and could not retain possession.
Portugal pushed up, hemmed England in and piled the pressure on. Diana Silva had the beating of Niamh Charles, but her deliveries from out wide could only find the grateful gloves of Mary Earps. But as time ticked on, the impending sense of jeopardy grew. England were treading water, not just in the rain, but also in the game. But there was no cavalry coming off the bench to steer the game back their way. And inevitability, their lead was washed away.
Nazareth rewards Portugal’s second-half endeavour
With 15 minutes left to play, a wonderful backheel flick from Ana Apeta opened the door for Nazareth to charge at the exposed England backline. She left Clinton for dead with her pace, then with her right foot sent a wonderful, curling effort past the dive of Earps and into the top corner. It was Portugal’s first shot on target, indeed, their only shot on target in the game. But it was also a fully deserved leveller.
The response was too slow and too late from Wiegman who threw Chloe Kelly and Aggie Beaver-Jones on to salvage the game for England, but that ship had long sailed off into the horizon. Instead, it was Portugal who came closest to claiming all three points, as Nazareth nearly made it a brace off the bench. With less than ten minutes to play, a one-two with Jacinto got the Barcelona forward into the box, but a crucial block by Williamson prevented any further damage. It finished all square: a result and a performance, which has become all too familiar for England in this latest era under Wiegman. And with World Cup winners Spain up next at Wembley on Wednesday, it won’t be getting any easier for them either.
The Halfway Line Player of the Match: Kika Nazareth
Neto’s substitutions with 30 minutes left changed the game, and Nazareth was key to that. She scored a brilliant goal to level the game, and came close to winning the match at the end. England failed to play their game after half time once again, and Nazareth ensured they were punished for their folly.
